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How does USCIS decide which Service Center to assign your I-130 petition

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I just read something about this and my response is below. But I ha e been wondering and therefore I'm curious to know if there's a formula for petition and Service Center assignment. Do you guys really think they assign cases randomly to any center?

 

I don't believe the Service Centers are based on the State where a person lives. Me and my other two friends filed around the same time. We are both USA citizens and our husbands are Dominican. I went to Potomac and my petition was approved in 6 months. One of my friends went to Texas, the other went to Nebraska. My two friends haven't gotten their petitions approved yet and it will be a year for them this coming May since then got the NOA1. We both live in the Washington, DC area. So not sure how they decide to assign cases to centers.

 

I heard California is mostly assigned to GreenCard holder's marriage petitions. Is that correct? One of my friend who is a permanent resident was sent to California.

Edited by VALU
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Back when mine was assigned I wondered the same so I actually reached out to my state senator.  She told me there’s not much rhyme or reason behind it.  Could be due to the center’s current volume or the type of petition filed.  Mostly it is unpredictable and could go to any. Good luck!

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3 minutes ago, KJ2 said:

Back when mine was assigned I wondered the same so I actually reached out to my state senator.  She told me there’s not much rhyme or reason behind it.  Could be due to the center’s current volume or the type of petition filed.  Mostly it is unpredictable and could go to any. Good luck!

Ok. Do you think they just give that answer as to not seem "prejudice". Almost like an insider secret. My friend who ended up at Nebraska was denied a K-1 visa and ended filing again after they got married. So do you think it mostly depends on the type/ease/simplicity of case as you mentioned above?

Edited by VALU
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6 minutes ago, VALU said:

Ok. Do you think they just give that answer as to not seem "prejudice". Almost like an insider secret. My friend who ended up at Nebraska was denied a K-1 visa and ended filing again after they got married. So do you think it mostly depends on the type/ease/simplicity of case as you mentioned above?

I-129Fs (for a K-1) are initially handled at CSC. An I-130 with a USC petitioner can end up at any service center.

 

USCIS assigns cases to balance the load and priorities of the service centers. Nobody knows exactly the conditions that result in where the petition is initially sent among eligible service centers.

There is a rumor that they avoid one if you are very close to it to minimize having somebody who knows you seeing your case. I'm not sure if I buy that, though.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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10 minutes ago, VALU said:

Ok. Do you think they just give that answer as to not seem "prejudice". Almost like an insider secret. My friend who ended up at Nebraska was denied a K-1 visa and ended filing again after they got married. So do you think it mostly depends on the type/ease/simplicity of case as you mentioned above?

Im not sure, I think it’s just workload though! All of the service centers are currently processing at rather similar times. 

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
Timeline

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to USCIS Service Centers forum.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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